Media Will Eat Itself

Shaun Weston talks to film producer Lauren Parker about what it's like to work in the British film industry. Lauren has worked across multiple roles and has gained an understanding of what other people do and how each piece fits together to form a whole. In her short career so far, she has produced short films, commercials and music videos, and has post-lockdown projects in development. The discussion covers the challenges of funding, attracting talent, the influence of Vimeo, the benefits of a professional showreel, and the importance of trust. Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.

Justin Crosby of Boom PR talks to Shaun Weston about the effect of Covid-19 on the TV industry, as well as his fledgling TellyCast podcast series. We find out about Justin’s background through various PR roles across a number of high-profile companies, his work in the games and music industries, the challenges of producing a podcast, the effect of Netflix et al on how we consume media, and the opportunities the next phase of life beyond lockdown may bring. His advice for aspiring PR professionals borders on the unimaginable: can you envision using an iPhone to actually make a call? Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.

Alexandra Moxin is CEO and founder of Advance Tech Media, and produces the Advance Tech podcast. She talks to Shaun Weston about getting into tech, project management, podcast production and self-promotion. The conversation turns to the power of writing vs audio and video, leadership, and the cumbersome yet fascinating topic of artificial intelligence. Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.

Martin Knight, managing director of Home, talks to Shaun Weston about the changing face of employee engagement and internal communications. Martin has enjoyed a 28-year career at Home, an employee experience agency based in Bristol, which itself celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2021. The concept of business communications has changed a lot since Martin joined Home in 1992. We talk about his personal and professional challenges in transferring skills across a long career, and the benefits of having worked at a single company. Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.

Johnny Palmer and Shaun Weston discuss the events industry, how it has or hasn’t adapted to change, and Johnny’s Virtual Venue concept. We find out a little bit about his young entrepreneurial background, his move from Tasmania to the UK, his connections with the local community, and the energy demands on the physical and mental health of a self-starter. Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.

Juliet Eccleston, founder and CEO of AnyGood?, joins Shaun Weston to discuss her mission to “change the recruitment industry”. Juliet’s professional background covers programme and project management roles across a handful of industries, including the BBC, Legal & General and Britannia Building Society. It’s Juliet’s role as a director and company founder that the show tries to tap into, particularly how she has adapted to changes in how businesses use modern media, the role of AI, and how Juliet envisions the future of recruitment, particularly for young people getting their careers up and running. Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.

Experienced broadcaster Bob Ballard joins Shaun Weston to discuss his background in radio, his love and extensive knowledge of music and sport, and his career shift into lecturing. In 2019, Bob became a lecturer for UCFB, and can call the prestigious Wembley Stadium his office environment. His background in radio covers many local BBC stations, as well as nationals gigs such as 5 Live and TalkSport, and he’s an international commentary veteran, having enjoyed three Olympics, three Winter Olympics and four Commonwealth Games. Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.

Owen Wheeler joins Shaun Weston to talk about the challenges of being a professional freelance videographer. He recently set up Repertoire Creative, yet he’s operated as a freelancer under his own name for several years. His portfolio includes work across a number of industries and brands, with his journey so far placing him in the company of ITV, BBC Sport, Red Bull and Manchester Pride. Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.

Manchester-based poet Andrew McMillan joins Shaun Weston to discuss what it’s like to be a poet and writer in the digital age, and how modern life, mental health and social media influence our creativity. Andrew is author of the first ever poetry collection to win The Guardian First Book Award, and is a lecturer at The Manchester Writing School. Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.

Shaun Weston talks to Will Chidlow about life as a designer, brand specialist and YouTuber. Will describes the demands of being a videographer, which he balances with freelance life and as a full-time senior designer for Liquid Light in Brighton. Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.

My guest for episode 18 of Media Will Eat Itself is Sharon Walpole, of Careermap, a service that helps young people get their career kickstarted. We cover her background in publishing and how it's helped her now that she's a business development specialist. Of course, the bulk of our discussion is about young people, and navigating cyberbullying, confidence, recognising your self-worth, leveraging your soft skills, and mental health in general. It's a fascinating conversation and I really hope you enjoy it.

Shaun Weston and David Brear (CEO of 11:FS) discuss company culture, building brands, podcasting, social media and what being your real self actually means.

Shaun Weston and Tanya Andreasyan (MD and editor-in-chief of FinTech Futures) discuss what it’s like to be a tireless professional editor. The pace of change has been led by digital, such as website proliferation and social media, yet Tanya still has a soft spot for print media.

Shaun Weston interviews talented digital illustrator Fil Dunsky. Not only is he a fantastic artist, he’s also a yoga teacher, and a prolific presence on many social media channels. Find out what it's like being a freelance illustrator in Russia.

Shaun Weston talks to business analyst Guy Shone of Explain the Market. The discussion begins with background into the life of a research professional, and turns to tribalism, inauthenticity and the oversaturation of political discourse.

In episode 13, Shaun chats to Tom Ross, founder and CEO of Design Cuts, about how fast the world of media and design is moving. They discuss the power of authenticity, the marriage of design and technology, and what it’s like to try a new platform such as TikTok and feel old (at 31).

William Villalobos of The Futures joins Shaun Weston on the Media Will Eat Itself podcast to talk about architecture, design, and running a business.

David Kelly of Storm Consultancy joins Shaun Weston on the Media Will Eat Itself podcast to talk about entrepreneurial startups, technology and marketing.

Shaun Weston talks to Sian Holt, founder and managing director of Fudge Kitchen, about modern marketing vs old school. Also, how is Instagram helping Sian market her business for new fudge fans, and what exactly is it like to run a successful confectionery business?

Shaun Weston talks to Kym Hamer, who describes herself as a marketing director, property investor, school governor and blogger. Kym and Shaun first met when he was editor of a food and drink website, and Kym was working for a well-known packaging company. Her skills have led naturally to independent consultancy, which this interview will cover.

In this episode, Andrew Davison talks to Shaun Weston about his focus on Zapier, a service that helps people connect web apps to harness the power of automation. The conversation also covers Andrew’s background as an entrepreneur, having founded Teacher Finder, and as a marketing manager and business development manager. Music is by Bensound, a track called Jazzy Frenchy.

Shaun Weston talks to social media and communications expert Drew Benvie.

Shaun Weston talks to Christian Day, who runs Knight Studios, a digital brand, content and experience agency. Clients include the NBA, Adidas, Chelsea Football Club and Google. He describes the the design agency as “intentionally small”. Music is by Bensound, a track called Jazzy Frenchy.

Professional photographer Joby Sessions has made the transition to videography by virtue of his understanding of his craft, but also of the changing landscape of freelance opportunities. Shaun Weston visited Joby to discover his journey into photography, how he adapted to the advances of technology and the changing demands of the job. Music is by Bensound, a track called Jazzy Frenchy.

Rachel Miller is an internal communications professional who runs her own consultancy helping people and organisations improve their ability to communicate. Today’s conversation is all about revealing some of the ins and outs of internal comms I bet you didn’t know about. produced by Shaun Weston Media.

Russell Anderson-Williams is a professional presentation design expert, and is particularly invested in training people how to make the most out of Prezi and PowerPoint. He discusses his craft with show host, Shaun Weston.

Shaun Weston and Rachel Morrissey discuss podcast production! Rachel is an experienced US-based podcast producer with an extensive background in producing high quality shows. This is a show full of useful tips and tricks, and great insight into how podcasts are put together.

Today, we’re discussing the ins and outs of writing your first book, with Duena Blomstrom, someone I’ve known for a few years in the world of financial technology and banking. Duena’s first book is coming out in April 2018, so I thought it would be a good time to catch up for a chat, to find out what went through her head (other than a few thousand words). We hooked up on Skype, had a great conversation and we came out with a few nuggets of insight and wisdom that I hope you’ll find useful. Music is by Bensound, a track called Jazzy Frenchy.